Nails

OPIis partnering with Gwen Stefani on a new, seven-piece limited edition nail polish collection for 2014 – featuring standout color in breakthrough finishes. Highlights from the collection include a bold red lacquer that pays homage to Gwen’s signature lipstick, a new semi-matte satin finish in shades of gold and black, and a mirrored chrome paired with a special base coat.

Gwen’s signature red OPI hue – Over & Over A-Gwen – will be available in a boxed set, which includes Swarovski black crystals and silver, gold and pewter studs in bar, square, diamond and circle shapes for creating unique nail designs, as well as nail glue for easy application. (more…)

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Lately, I’ve been enamored with Essie. Mr. Spoiled Pretty and Westley gave me a gift card to a local nail salon for Mother’s Day – and every time I get my nails did, I find myself gravitating to the Essie shades. Not only are the shades super gorge, but they apply like a dream and they look fresh to def for a good 10 days (and I’m super rough on my hands). On my toes, we’re talking a good month.

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L’oreal Paris recently re-designed all of their packaging, and their Colour Riche nail polishes now come in sleek rectangular bottles.

I picked up two colors: New Money (a bright, light green) and Crazy for Chic (a clear, vibrant raspberry pink). I was eager to see how long these polishes would last, since they are advertised for 10-day wear.

I applied two coats of each color, going for a summertime watermelon-inspired manicure. I proceeded to beat up my manicures as I always do: washing dishes, typing way too much, and cooking.

I am happy to report that my watermelon nails lasted for 8 days without chipping! These polishes have serious staying power, and they are a great choice for summertime manicures and pedicures with longevity.

I’m very fickle about my fingernails. Before I paint my nails or get them professionally did, I spend a inordinate amount of time pondering my polish options. I consider the season, recent trends, my wardrobe that week and anywhere special I might go. But despite all of this planning, I’m usually over my polish choice before it even dries.

Not so this week. I’m currently rocking CoverGirl Outlast Brilliant Shine Nail Gloss in Vio-last, and I’m as smitten with it as when I bought the bottle this weekend. For the last few weeks, I’d wanted to wear a cool purple cream nail polish. I assumed that I had one in my nail polish arsenal – but if you can believe it, I couldn’t find anything close among my 300+ bottles. All of my purples were too dark, pastel or shimmery. It seemed silly (not to mention excessive) to buy a new bottle of polish on a whim when I already own so many, so I abandoned my pursuit. But as fate would have it, just as I purged purple polish from my brain, my dream shade found me at Walmart.

On Sunday, while shopping for boring household items, I walked through the cosmetics section on my way to the register and spied CoverGirl Outlast Brilliant Shine in Vio-last in my peripheral vision. It’s exactly what I had been looking for: the right shade at the right price. Plus it has a built-in base coat, boasts great coverage (one coat completely covers, though I painted on two as directed) and dries to a really nice shine that negates the need for a topcoat. I painted my nails on Sunday and they’re still shining (bright like a diamond, in the immortal words of Rihanna) today. Another benefit is that—if you don’t abuse your hands—you can make it 5 to 7 days without a chip.

Excuse the sloppy application. My son was having a hissy-fit while I was painting my nails
because he wanted to “play action figures” with me – hence the rush job.

Vio-last is my second CoverGirl Outlast Brilliant Shine Nail Gloss (I also have Peaches and Cream, below, which I wore last month), but it won’t be my last. There are 45 gorgeous shades and I’m already eying up Ever Reddy, Mint Mojito and Out of the Blue.